To celebrate this year’s Rehoboth Beach Jazz Festival, we are hosting an exhibition of artworks depicting nightlife and famous musicians. “Wine, Women, and All That Jazz” features works from Mike Fields, Al Moretti, An Nguyen, and Kyle Whary, all new exhibitors to our gallery.

  

    As the title of the show suggests, the works in this fun and vibrant exhibition encompass the energy of late-night jazz clubs and speakeasies. Mixing historical faces and iconic images with abstract painting, these colorful and innovative works bring the American jazz scene to Lewes, inviting viewers to intimate performances with the likes of Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Joni Mitchell while enjoying a rich glass of red on the side.  

 

    Mike Fields is a self-taught portrait artist of 14 years, currently residing in the East Valley of Phoenix, Arizona. His work evokes memories of times past, as his black and white canvases are recreated from photographs of musicians and celebrities. His portraits have garnered attention locally, nationally, and internationally in exhibitions and as charitable donations. Mike's first international exhibition was in Europe at the 2016 North Sea Jazz Festival’s 40th Edition in Rotterdam, Netherlands, where he was the featured artist out of the five artists chosen worldwide.

 

    Influenced by trumpeter and jazz master Miles Davis and Avant-Garde composer and multi-media conceptual artist John Cage, Al Moretti is a formally trained musician and self-taught visual artist. Al’s large-scale portraits are instantly recognizable for their pop art and graphic style, allowing music to stimulate and dictate his creative process. His work has been shown at a number of exhibitions and events including West Chester University, the Art Trust in West Chester, Uptown Music Theatre, and historic Kennett’s pop-up art show to name a few. He also participates in the Chester County Studio Tour and other outdoor music and art festivals.

 

    An Nguyen uses vibrant colors and intricate composition to illustrate the rhythms and joys of modern life. Inspired by her travels and love of music, her geometric paintings capture the vibrant environments of musical nightlife, playfully bringing elements of jazz and urban architecture to life. As an Asian Canadian, she uses her art to reflect on her immigrant identity and rediscovers the world through her children’s eyes. Her paintings have been featured in local galleries, restaurants, and public venues throughout Ottawa, Ontario, as well as on album covers for Canadian and international musicians.

 

    With cocktails and beverages of all sorts as his muse, Kyle Whary takes the ordinary and visualizes something extraordinary. Kyle’s detailed drink portraits create drama and romance, leaving a lingering mystery around the context of each glass. Kyle’s passion for art extends beyond the canvas and into the classroom, where he has been an elementary art teacher in the Octorara School District for over 15 years.

 

    An opening reception will be held on Saturday, October 2, from 5 to 6:30pm. Please note, due to the rise in the Delta variant of COVID-19, masks will be required while inside the gallery. Reservations are not required. Call (302) 645-0551 or email peninsulagallery1@gmail.com for details.